He celebrated Friday at the REAL Services Nutrition Site in Silver Lake.
People were able to go to the building, get some cupcakes and wish Metzger a happy birthday. Metzger said the Silver Lake Fire Department drove around the building to help him celebrate.
Crystal Hallwood, lead nutritional coordinator at REAL Services, said the party was planned about a month ago. People were reached out to like SLFD to help Metzger celebrate.
Approximately 30 people, not including the fire department, came to REAL Services Friday between 11 a.m. and noon during Metzger’s birthday celebration, Hallwood said.
Today, he will have family members at his home to help him celebrate.
Metzger has lived on his family farm for 95 years. His grandfather bought it in 1913 and “dad had it and then I got it.” Currently, his neighbors farm the land.
He still lives independently with his cat, Snoopy, and he plans to live on his family farm the rest of his life. He had been married to his wife for 53 years until she died in 1994. He’s been living on his own since.
He had four children, two still living, and about 20 great-grandchildren, all across the country.
He still has license as well, though his son has been driving him around the last couple weeks. Metzger said as long as you can see and have a sound mind, you can drive.
One of the stories Metzger shared about himself was about how he got his nickname of “Jimmy.”
When he was at grade school at Maple Grove, he “pestered” one of the older boys, who finally told Metzger to “stop your jimmin’ around.” That name stuck.
Maple Grove no longer exists, but when he did attend the school, it was a two-room school.
Metzger is a regular at the REAL Services Nutrition Site in Silver Lake for the past 15 years. Before the pandemic, he used to play euchre and there was a social meeting beforehand, he said. That type of thing helps keep people’s minds busy.
When asked if he had any secrets to living so long, he attributed it to good genes. Metzger said his father was 95 and he had a brother who was 97 when he died. He also attributed his long life to clean living - no smoking or alcohol.
Right now, he’s living day by day.
When asked if he had any plans yet for his 101st birthday, Metzger said not yet.
